Jockey Jamie Osborne almost lifted the lid on the corruption in horse racing two years ago.

He was called to give evidence in the trial of former police detective Robert Harrington in February 2000.

Harrington had been accused of trying to extort money from the famous National Hunt rider after he was questioned in connection with race-fixing allegations.

The former Detective Sergeant was jailed after trying to convince Osborne he would be implicated in the scandal unless he paid him a bribe.

But it was Osborne's evidence that raised the most eyebrows, as he named people involved in the fixing of races, including Dermot Browne and gangster Brian Wright.

JAMIE OSBORNE'S EVIDENCE

Osborne was asked if he knew Brian Wright, but he said no and said that although he was on a weekend which is believed to have been organised by Wright, he did not see him.

He also spoke in detail about being offered £20,000 to throw a race, saying it was the Cheltenham Festival "somewhere round" 1987. Asked who offered it says: "I have never told. A fellow called Dermot Browne."

Questioned closely about offer, he said that Wright was a "friend" of Browne and that he was offered the cash to "pull" two horses at Cheltenham.

Osborne, who turned the offer down, says he told trainers of the two horses - and maybe a close friend - but did not report the matter to the authorities. Nor did the trainers.

Questioned

He put this down to his young age at the time - 19 and told the court that had this happened now, that he would have reported it.

"You don't understand the things, the importance of something like that. Plus the fact I think that there were things going on in the eighties that no longer go on within racing."

Jamie Osborne was repeatedly questioned about his relationship with Brian Brendan Wright.

Asked if he told Harrington (the accused) about Brian Brendan Wright entertaining jockeys, he said: "It is common knowledge that Brian Wright is a friend of some jockeys and some of them go out and stay with him in Spain and play golf with him."

No harm

He was asked if that list included him, but Jamie Osborne said: "No, Not me."

In his summing up, the judge mentioned the incident in which Jamie Osborne claimed he was approached by Dermot Browne.

He told the jury: "I am sure you will remember that somewhat dramatic moment when he named - for the first time apparently in this Court - the person who approached him.

"I suppose it can do no harm now. It was a fellow called Dermot Browne."

The judge reminded them that the jockey had guessed but did not know to this day that Brian Wright was behind the approach, which was refused by Osborne.